Aged Care Sponsorship Australia: How Many Sponsors, and Where (2026 Data)
Figures derived live from the SponsorTalent employer dataset, August 2026. Published in aggregate only — individual providers are listed in the sponsor directory. Methodology and limitations: Who Sponsors Australia?
How big is aged care sponsorship in Australia?
As at August 2026, the SponsorTalent dataset maps 1,090 residential aged-care provider records from the national sector register, held alongside the Department of Home Affairs approved-sponsor register — 3,545 businesses across all industries hold current DHA sponsorship approval. Childcare, the other half of the care economy, adds 1,903 centre-based provider records. Being a registered provider and being an approved sponsor are separate approvals: most care providers are not yet sponsors, which is exactly why the sector leans on the labour-agreement route below.
Where the aged-care providers are
State breakdown of the 1,090 provider records with a parseable state in the dataset:
| State | Residential aged-care provider records |
|---|---|
| VIC | 381 |
| NSW | 352 |
| QLD | 148 |
| WA | 113 |
| SA | 70 |
| TAS | 13 |
| ACT | 8 |
| NT | 5 |
Register coverage varies by state — see the methodology notes. Across the full dataset, roughly three in four listed employers have a direct contact channel.
How aged-care sponsorship actually works
Most direct-care roles (personal care workers, nursing support) are sponsored under the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA) rather than the standard 482 occupation list — with concessions on English and salary thresholds, and a union consultation step. Registered Nurses go through the standard 482/186 route with ANMAC assessment and AHPRA registration. Details and current roles: aged care worker sponsorship and aged care jobs with visa sponsorship.
Create a free candidate profile to be found by care-sector sponsors, or if you run a provider, post your roles. Visa side handled by a registered migration agent (MARN 1576536).
Counts are of provider records in the SponsorTalent dataset (national sector registers cross-referenced with the Department of Home Affairs approved-sponsor register); multiple services can share an address, and these are not official Government statistics. General information only, not migration advice.
Looking for visa sponsorship in Australia?
Create a free candidate profile and upload your CV to get found by 3,500+ approved Australian sponsors searching SponsorTalent — across childcare, aged care, healthcare, trades and more. Free to join; your details stay private until you connect.
Create your free profile & upload your CV →Are you an employer? List a role to hire sponsored workers
The visa side is a separate process
Reading up before you apply? Sponsorship approval, the nomination and the 482 (or 494 / 186) visa are lodged separately from finding the job. Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536), can assess your pathway — a free written first read; a paid consultation only if you choose to engage. General information until then, not personal advice.